Everyday Cleaning

How to Clean Your Windows

Viva® Towels
6.33 min. Read
Person cleaning a window with a blue cloth.

You’ve watched amazing sunsets through your windows and seen your kids play happily on the lawn. Yet, cleaning your windows can be one chore that easily falls on the bottom of your priority list.

From the bedroom to the living room, this guide will help you become a window washing pro. Plus, find out how using Viva® Multi-Surface Cloth™ paper towels can help you enjoy your next sunset through crystal-clear windows. Viva

The Importance of Regular Window Cleaning

Cleaning your windows regularly is about more than just aesthetics, although that matters too. When it comes to caring for the windows in your home, consider adding it to your regular cleaning list for these reasons:

  • Aesthetics
    In this case, looks do matter. Dirty windows can make your home look messy and shabby. This will also eventually detract from your home’s curb appeal and hurt your efforts if you’re trying to sell your house. Also, dirty windows can lead to dust, dirt, and grime, which is not only unsightly to your home, but it can also impact your health.

  • Energy efficiency
    This one might be a bit of a surprise, but dirty windows can even hurt your home's energy efficiency. Dirty, grimy windows can negatively impact their insulation abilities, increasing your use of the air conditioner in the summer and the heater in the winter. By cleaning your windows regularly, you help keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Thus, saving you both money and energy.

  • Maintains the integrity of your windows
    Due to the porous nature of your glass windows, dirt can penetrate them and lower their lifespan. Regular cleaning keeps culprits like hard water, calcium buildup, acid rain, and metal screen oxidation from causing degradation as well as a loss of transparency.

  • Enjoy a better view
    Enjoying those beautiful sunsets and sunrises is so much easier and enjoyable through clean, clear windows. By cleaning your windows regularly, you not only get to enjoy a better view, but it can also help boost your mental health. By allowing maximum sunlight to filter into your home, you can even potentially brighten your mood.

Safety Precautions for Window Cleaning

Before you make your windows sparkle, use these safety precautions to make sure that you get the best results.

- Avoid using abrasive tools like razor blades, scours, or metal objects when cleaning your windows as they’ll leave behind scratches.

- Use acid-based cleaners with caution and only when necessary. And if you need to use one, protect the wall and frame around it by laying down a towel on the windowsill and floor.

- When using an acid-based cleaner, always wear rubber gloves.

How to safely clean windows

Window Cleaning Materials

Ready to make your windows shine? Gather these window washing tools to get started!

Window Cleaning Solution

A key part of cleaning windows is your cleaning solution. You can either make your own homemade window cleaning solution or buy a store-bought cleaner. Whichever option you choose, avoid cleaners with acids or abrasive ingredients.

Bucket

When it’s time to remove the cleaning solution from your windows, you’ll also need a bucket of clean water. The bucket is also a convenient way to carry your supplies around as you clean.

Ladder or step stool

Having a sturdy ladder can be helpful for hard-to-reach spots, especially if you have a multi-level home. If you’re using an ordinary ladder, make sure that you have someone to hold it in place to avoid falling. You might even want to consider using a window cleaning ladder, which is made in an A shape.

Viva® Paper Towels

Perfect for every stage of your window washing journey, Viva® Multi-Surface Cloth™ paper towels can help clean grimy, dirty windows. Additionally, these paper towels help leave any surface spotless.

Use them to dust off your windows, sills, and frames, apply your cleaning solution, or dry your window

Preparing for Window Cleaning

Unsure of the best time to clean your windows? Create the perfect set of conditions to tackle your windows with this list.

Choose a cloudy day or work in the shade

In your quest to avoid streaks, choosing the right time of day to wash your windows is key. Cleaning your windows on a grey, dry day is the best way to ensure clear windows. If you clean your windows during a sunny, warm day the heat will cause your solution to evaporate too quickly, leaving streaks behind.

Remove curtains or blinds

Before you begin, remove your curtains or blinds. This will help avoid getting any spillage on them and means that you won’t have to contend with them while you clean. This is also the perfect time to chuck your curtains in the wash.

Dust and vacuum windowsills and frames

The first enemy on your streak-free journey you’ll come across is dust. Cleaning any dust from your frames and windowsills means you won’t simply be wiping it around when you apply your cleaning solution.

Step-by-Step Window Cleaning Process

Wondering what the best way is to clean windows? Follow these steps to achieve the streak-free windows of your dreams.

Step 1: Once your frames and windowsills are dusted, use some Viva® Multi-Surface Cloth™ paper towels to remove any dust from your windows.

Step 2: Apply a generous amount of store-bought or homemade window cleaner to your Viva® Multi-Surface Cloth™ paper towels, then add some solution

Step 3: Once your solution has been thoroughly applied, grab some more paper towels and clean the solution from your window, along with the clean water in your bucket.

Step 4: Use some Viva® Multi-Surface Cloth™ paper towels to dry the excess moisture to reveal a clean, clear window. Featuring 4x cleaning power, these paper towels remove dirt, scrubs grime, absorbs quick, and locks liquid.

Pro tip: You can repeat these tips for outside window cleaning, too. You’ll probably need to use a little more elbow grease for those tougher stains. But thanks to the micro-scrubbing texture of these paper towels, stains will be no match for you.

Tips to Achieve Streak-Free Windows

In the pursuit of streak-free glass, there are some mistakes you’ll want to avoid when cleaning your windows. These tips will help you get on the fast track to clean, clear windows.

- Use the right materials to dry your windows
The drying part is crucial to help you avoid streaks. Although using newspapers and old rags are popular choices, they can leave lint or dye behind. Instead, opt for Viva® Multi-Surface Cloth™ paper towels.

- Don’t forget your windowsill/frame
By forgetting to clean the dust and dirt from your windowsill, the buildup can hurt the functionality of the window. This can also contribute to dirtying the window you just cleaned!

- Using the wrong tools
As mentioned earlier, using the wrong tools can be an expensive mistake. When cleaning your window avoid using sharp or abrasive cleaning tools as they’ll only scratch up the surfaces of your windows.

- Clean your windows regularly
To keep your windows clean throughout the year, washing them regularly is important. This will make sure that tough stains are frequently removed.

Keep Your House Clean with Viva®

Follow this step-by-step guide to achieve clean and clear windows in your home.

Using Viva® paper towels makes any window cleaning job easy thanks to their micro-scrubbing texture. In addition to windows, Viva® helps you to master any mess for an easy everyday clean. Keep every surface of your home sparkling clean with Viva®, the ultimate cleaning companion.

CTA: Discover additional tips to clean your house with Viva®.

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